cock-of-the-rock

American  

[kok-uhv-thuh-rok] / ˈkɒk əv ðəˈrɒk /

noun

plural

cocks-of-the-rock

1. a brilliant orange-red bird of the genus Rupicola, of northern South America, having an erect crest that conceals the bill.

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cock-of-the-rock British  

noun

1. either of two tropical South American birds, Rupicola rupicola or R. peruviana, having an erectile crest and (in the male) a brilliant red or orange plumage: family Cotingidae (cotingas)

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Etymology

Origin of cock-of-the-rock

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

Lots of these are flashy and colorful, like Peru’s Andean cock-of-the-rock, Angola’s red-crested turaco, Nicaragua’s turquoise-browed motmot.

From Slate • Dec. 30, 2016

Such are the rapid descent of the snipe, the soaring and singing of the lark, and the dances of the cock-of-the-rock and of many other birds.

From Darwinism (1889) by Wallace, Alfred Russel

The elegant crested bird called cock-of-the-rock, admirably described by Buffon, is a native of the woody mountains of Macoushia.

From Wanderings in South America by Waterton, Charles